Cal Poly Offers Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering

The California State University's first Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering will be awarded to as many as ten graduates at Cal Poly this June.

Recently approved by CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, the degree builds upon the university's biomedical engineering program, which was established in 2005. The popular and rapidly growing major was developed in response to industry growth in the production of stents, MEMS, tissue engineering, and other medical products.

"This well-rounded faculty has developed robust curricular offerings in bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, systems physiology, clinical engineering and rehabilitation engineering. In addition, the program has had the strong support of industry partners, including St. Jude Medical, Abbot Vascular, Advanced Bionics, Edwards Life Sciences, and Boston Scientific," explains Griffin. "These two factors have enabled us to offer the advanced degree which has grown out of our existing specialization in Biomedical Engineering."

Unique in the CSU, the Cal Poly Biomedical M.S. degree program has an emphasis on the design and development of medical devices. The majority of degree candidates plan to enter the medical device industry, while several will go on to medical and Ph.D. degree programs.

"We see the approval of the master's degree as affirmation of the program we've built and the official stamp of approval for us to take the next step forward," says Griffin.